Working With A Disability? Here Are 4 Reasons Why Mentoring Might Be The Career For You

One of the most challenging things about working with a disability is finding a job role with the flexibility to suit your needs, especially if your condition is likely to vary or change over time. Here at Career Navig8r, we’re really proud to provide a valuable and legitimate alternate income source for skilled workers who are struggling to find employment that’s right for them.

The wonderful thing about mentoring is that anybody can do it so long as they have the experience, making it one of the most inclusive fields of employment out there. Today we’ll be exploring four reasons why mentoring is perfect for people with disabilities and how it could help you revitalise your career.

1. Incredible Flexibility

One of the main advantages of any alternate income source is that you get to be your own boss and that means an incredible level of flexibility. After all, you’re the one running the show, so you’re the one who gets to set the rules.

Add to that the flexibility of fully remote, online work and it’s hard to think of a job more wonderfully suited to the needs of the individual. Working with Mentees, you’ll be able to set their expectations up front and design a plan that meets your requirements.

For example, some people struggle with chronic migraines. At their worst, these migraines can be unpredictable and debilitating, and the only thing you can do is wait. Not only does this mean that people with chronic migraines often require sick days at very short notice, but the frequency of these sick days can make it harder to stay in the loop about important developments in the workplace.

Working as a Mentor, it’s easy to reschedule meetings at short notice, especially if your Mentee is pre-warned that this may occasionally happen. The best part is that your work with individual Mentees is generally separated, so it’s far less vital to stay informed on every decision. During your meetings, you’ll only need the context of the individual Mentee which, if needs be, they can provide.

After all, you’re not here to do the work for them, but to teach them your skills and knowledge.

2. Staying Active in Your Field

Disabilities can wax and wane in their severity and the influence they have over your life, both personally and professionally. Unfortunately, many jobs don’t recognise this or put procedures in place to accommodate those who may need to take long-term leave.

As a result, many people with disabilities find themselves stepping away from their careers for long periods of time and when they return it can be hard to get back into the swing of things. This is particularly true in fast-changing fields such as marketing where staying up-to-date is crucial to success.

As a Mentor, not only can you continue to earn money with an alternative income source but, in doing so, you can keep one foot in the door. When you’re ready to return to work, you can feel secure in the knowledge that you haven’t missed a beat.

3. Amazing Job Satisfaction

When you’re looking for a job it’s easy to get bogged down in problems. Whether it’s your working hours, your commute, or your salary, there are often so many problems to solve that people forget the most important thing of all: job satisfaction.

At Career Navig8r, we truly believe that the job you dedicate your working hours to should be one you enjoy. It should be a job you’re proud to work and one that brings you real and meaningful satisfaction.

For many, mentoring can be just that. By teaching others the skills you’ve developed, you’ll be helping them to build their careers and live better lives. You’ll be sharing your knowledge and levelling up the people around you.

Having a disability can put up many roadblocks in your path but it doesn’t have to cut you off from meaningful job satisfaction. 

4. A Fantastic Alternative Income Source

The most important thing you can know before becoming a mentor is this: your experience is a real and tangible asset and mentoring is a great way to monetise it.

As an alternative income source, mentoring is everything you could want and more. You won’t need to learn any new skills because it relies on the ones you already have and you won’t need to handle marketing because the platform already exists to do it for you.

All you need to do is sign up, list your skills and experience, and wait for the Mentees to come to you.

Here at Career Navig8r, we want to build a platform informed by everyone’s experiences. We can’t wait to have you on board and we’re sure you’ll be an incredible asset to our community!